Head Over Heels

Lead-in

  • Have you ever been in love? 
    • If so, was it a good or a negative experience? How so?
    • If not, do you want to?
  • How can you tell if a person is in love?
  • What pops into your mind when you hear the word love?

Presentation

Pre

  • What do you value most in a romantic relationship? Why?

Top Down

  • What is the text about? Read it and find out.
  • The 3 stages of marriage
  • The 3 stages of dating relationships
  • The 3 stages of getting divorced
  • The 3 stages of marriage
  • The 3 stages of dating relationships
  • The 3 stages of getting divorced
  • Stage 1: Initial Meeting/Attraction

Dating relationships have to start somewhere. The initial meeting may take place over the internet, through friends, in a church or social group, at a party or bar, or in any one of a myriad of many different places.

Different arenas for meetings allow for different opportunities to get to know each other and see if there is enough curiosity or interest to take it to the next level which would involve arranging a second or third meeting.

  • Stage 2: Curiosity, Interest, and Infatuation

Early attraction often involves the physical attributes of the partner and includes things like outward appearance, body type, interests, and personality traits. At this stage, the attraction may not be too “deep” and each half of a couple is generally putting his or her best foot forward. Differences are not noticed or are dismissed with thoughts like “not a big deal” or “she will change”.

Couples generally do not have much conflict at this stage of the cycle as each is really trying hard to impress the other person. Often (not always) there is not enough “is this the right person for me” but rather more “what can I do to make this person like me?”

  • Stage 3: “Enlightenment” and Becoming a Couple

Both halves of a couple will notice weaknesses and differences or flaws. “Cute” habits might become irritating at this stage. Some of those perpetual issues or differences such as free-spending or frugal, neat and orderly or sloppy and disorganized, interested in lots of time together or more involved in outside activities begin to emerge.

This is when the big question emerges even more strongly: “Where are we headed?“ Women have a tendency to ask this question before men, even though both may be wondering about the answer to this question. Pushing for an answer; however, may cause real problems in the relationship. Each person needs to listen to their own inner voice and wisdom. It is important to talk over their thoughts and feelings with their partner while finding ways to keep from “pushing” for commitment.

Modified from source

Bottom Up

  • True or False
  1. According to the text, it’s better if the initial meeting takes place through friends.
  2. If there isn’t enough curiosity or interest people should take it to the next level which would involve arranging a second or third meeting.
  3. Early attraction often involves attributes such as outward appearance, body type, interests, and personality traits.
  4. Couples generally do not have much conflict at this stage of the cycle as they are trying hard to impress the other person.
  5. The second stage is when the big question emerges even more strongly, for example: “Where are we headed?“
  1. According to the text, it’s better if the initial meeting takes place through friends. False
  2. If there isn’t enough curiosity or interest people should take it to the next level which would involve arranging a second or third meeting. False
  3. Early attraction often involves attributes such as outward appearance, body type, interests, and personality traits. True
  4. Couples generally do not have much conflict at this stage of the cycle as they are trying hard to impress the other person. True
  5. The second stage is when the big question emerges even more strongly, for example: “Where are we headed?“ False

Post

  • What do you think about the descriptions of each stage?
  • What would you say is the fourth stage of a relationship?

Target Language

Relationship Expressions

  • Fall in love with someone
  • Ask someone out
  • Propose to someone
  • Move in together
  • Move in with someone
  • Get married to someone
  • Split up with someone
  • Break up with someone
  • Get divorced
  • Cheat on someone
  • Have an argument with someone
  • Make up with someone
  • Get along with someone
  • Settle down

Controlled Practice

  • Put the expressions from the Target Language  in the correct column. There is one example.

Positive

  1. Fall in love with someone
  2.  
  3.  
  4.  
  5.  
  6.  
  7.  
  8.  
  9.  

Negative

  1.  
  2.  
  3.  
  4.  
  5.  

Positive

  1. Fall in love with someone
  2. Ask someone out
  3. Propose to someone
  4. Move in together
  5. Move in with someone
  6. Get married to someone
  7. Make up with someone
  8. Get along with someone
  9. Settle down

Negative

  1. Split up with someone
  2. Break up with someone
  3. Get divorced
  4. Cheat on someone
  5. Have an argument with someone

Freer Practice

  • Use the Target Language and complete the sentences according to your own ideas.
  1. When people get married, they …
  2. The worst thing about relationships is …
  3. I never … but I …
  4. The most important step in a relationship is …
  5. When I have an argument with someone, I …

Production

  • Use the target language to talk about each relationship stage below:

Example: Falling in love with someone is good because it means you found someone you really care about but it can also be a bad thing if…

  1. Fall in love with someone
  2. Have an argument with someone
  3. Propose to someone
  1. Move in together
  2. Settle down
  3. Split up with someone

Homework

Define if these are either positive or negative. 

Example: 
Cheat on someone. (positive/negative) > Cheat on someone. (negative)

 
  1. Make up with someone. (positive/negative)
  2. Ask someone out. (positive/negative)
  3. Have an argument with someone. (positive/negative)
  4. Settle down. (positive/negative)
  5. Fall in love with someone. (positive/negative)
  1. Make up with someone. (positive/negative)
  2. Ask someone out. (positive/negative)
  3. Have an argument with someone. (positive/negative)
  4. Settle down. (positive/negative)
  5. Fall in love with someone. (positive/negative)

Choose one of the options for each context.

Example: She looked him in the eye and said: yes! (propose to someone/get divorced) > She looked him in the eye and said: yes! (propose to someone)
  1. They are not legally married, but they share the same roof. (move in together/cheat on someone)
  2. He and I had our differences. We’re okay now. (settle down/make up with someone)
  3. He lied to her. They are not together anymore. (break up with someone/getting alone with someone)
  4. When he sees her, his eyes shine. (move in with/fall in love with someone)
  5. He finally had the courage to talk to her! (ask someone out/settle down)
  1. They are not legally married, but they share the same roof. (move in together/cheat on someone)
  2. He and I had our differences. We’re okay now. (settle down/make up with someone)
  3. He lied to her. They are not together anymore. (break up with someone/getting alone with someone)
  4. When he sees her, his eyes shine. (move in with/fall in love with someone)
  5. He finally had the courage to talk to her! (ask someone out/settle down)

Conjugate the bracketed verbs. 

Example: She’s sad because he _____ on her. (cheat) > She’s sad because he cheated on her. 
  1. He ____ in love with her at first sight. (fall)
  2. After getting married, they _____ a house in Cleveland and ______ down. (buy/settle)
  3. John and Jane root for different teams, but they ____ along with each other. (get)
  4. Their marriage was not good, so they ___ divorced. (get)
  5. He was nervous and he _______ to her. (propose) 
  1. He fell in love with her at first sight. 
  2. After getting married, they bought a house in Cleveland and settled down. (buy/settle)
  3. John and Jane root for different teams, but they get along with each other. (get)
  4. Their marriage was not good, so they got divorced. (get)
  5. He was nervous and he proposed to her. (propose) 

Put the words in the correct order

Example: have partner. you your an argument polite when Be with > Be polite when you have an argument with your partner.

  1.  They marriage. years of  divorced twenty got after
  2. subway He the her station. at  to proposed
  3. I guy. Mark. with along a  He’s nice get
  4. I’m  devastated. me with last broke Tina night. up
  5. I  We’ll to go out. movies. asked the Tiffany
  1. They got divorced after twenty years of marriage.
  2. He proposed to her at the subway station. 
  3. I get along with Mark. He’s a nice guy. 
  4. Tina broke up with me last night. I’m devastated. 
  5. I asked Tiffany out. We’ll go to the movies. 

Insert the right relationship expression for the following sentences. 

Example: “Then, she knew she was in love with him.” > Expression: fall in love with
  1. He was dating Heather when he kissed Britany. > Expression:
  2. The couple was discussing very loudly.  > Expression:
  3. After weeks of serious talks, they decided to part ways. > Expression:
  4. We accepted his apologies, there is no problem between us. > Expression:
  1. He was dating Heather when he kissed Britany. > Expression: Cheat on someone
  2. The couple was discussing very loudly.  > Expression: Have an argument with
  3. After weeks of serious talks, they decided to part ways. > Expression: Break up with someone/split up with someone
  4. We accepted his apologies, there is no problem between us. > Expression: Make up with someone

Writing

Write a short text about your idea of a perfect relationship.

Example: In my opinion, a perfect relationship starts when the guy asks the girl out and…